Today’s baby boomers seek supplement choices for brain health in order to improve their memory and focus challenges. This directs their search towards nootroopic supplements which combine natural or synthetic amino acids, antioxidants, fatty acids, other herbal ingredients, minerals, and vitamins, in order to improve cognitive performance.
When you’re not a researching type of person and with there being so many supplement choices out there how do you know which brain supporting supplement to purchase and what ingredients to look?
You want to find a good Nootropic to help with the following:
- Improve Memory
- Promote Focus and Alertness
- Enhance Learning
- Support Verbal Recall
- Support Analytical Thinking
- Boost Mental Energy
- Enhance Creativity
- Reduce Stress
- Fight Cognitive Decline
According to Health & Wellness editor Peter Gold, many months of researching nootroopic supplements and gathering user feedback was spent where it was found that specific ingredients separated the high-quality nootropic supplements from generic lesser quality ones. He discovered the most essential ingredients to consider before running to the store and they are:
- Phosphatidylserine
- Bacopa Monnieri
- Huperzine A
So what are these ingredients and how do they support our brain.
Phosphatidylserine is found in the cerebral cortex covering and protects the brain cells and assists in carrying messages between cells. It is basically a phospholipid.
During the aging process brain cell membranes become rigid — impairing brain cell communication — resulting in memory recall issues.
Phosphatidylserine has been found to improve memory function and delayed recall in both middle-aged and older adults by helping rejuvenate brain cell membranes and supporting the release of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter responsible for memory.
Bacopa monnieri is an Ayurvedic medicinal herb which clinical studies have shown to:
- enhance memory retention
- Improve spatial learning
- the ability to take new information about one’s environment
- reduces stress
Interestingly enough, Bacopa monnieri increases the length and branching of nerve cells (or dendrites). Bacosides are the main component in Bacopa monnieri which combats oxidative stress a contributor of disease and cognitive decline. Oxidative stress acts as a free radical scavenger.
Huperzine A, an extract of the Huperzia serrata plant, has been shown in studies to improve memory and learning from young students to seniors.
Research shows that it improves memory and slows cognitive decline by increasing levels of acetylcholine, the compound that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It’s also been shown to help prevent neuronal cell death.
In clinical trials it has been shown to have a beneficial effect on:
- memory
- cognitive function
- and quality of life
What to Avoid
Peter Gold goes on to discuss what to avoid when buying nootropic supplements and he lists the following:
- Formulas which Lack Essential Vitamins
- Those Not Backed by a Doctor
- Insufficient Return Policy.
- Depending on Amazon Reviews
Amazon caution:
In March 2019 there were nearly 2 million new unverified reviews where their average was 5 stars for 99.6% of the reviews. Most, as Peter Gold points out, were people paid to write the review or ‘fake’ reviews to inflate the number and overall star rating of a product. So when it comes to health do not let Amazon reviews be your guide as they can be extremely misleading.
Here’s Peter Golds top 5 choices for Nootropic Supplements for overall brain support. He provides the pros and cons of each and why it was chosen providing a great detailed understanding. This list is in top to bottom recommendations
- Stonehenge Health Dynamic Brain
- Qualia Mind
- Genius Consciousness
- Neuriva
- Prevagen
For more details on this information and related studies and clinical trials please see his article by pressing the link below.
Health & Wellness: Guide to Top-Rated Nootropic Supplements of 2022